Eddie Jones lashes out at journalists AGAIN in spiky press conference as Australia humiliated by Wales
09/25/2023 09:59 AM
Australia boss Eddie Jones hit out at reporters following his side’s record defeat to Wales to leave them on the brink of World Cup elimination.
Warren Gatland’s men triumphed 40-6 on Sunday to inflict the Wallabies‘ heaviest World Cup loss.
And while Wales have secured their entry into the quarter-finals, Australia are on the cusp of exiting at the group stages for the first time in their history.
They have to beat Portugal in their last Group A match and hope Wales beat Georgia, and Georgia beat Fiji to stand any hope of progressing.
Former England boss Jones, who previously coached Australia from 2001 to 2005, was re-appointed in January on a four-year deal, but has lost seven out of his eight matches.
He once again hit out at journalists following Wales’ victory – a month after blasting the media over their ‘negativity’ ahead of the World Cup.
The 63-year-old took exception to his commitment of Australia, after a report from the Sydney Morning Herald claimed he held talks over returning to Japan in the days prior to the World Cup in France.
The story was published on the day of Australia’s defeat to Wales, leading a reporter to ask him whether he had been interviewed by the JRFU.
Jones bluntly responded: “I don't know what you're talking about mate.”
Pressed whether he could give Australia fans reassurance over his loyalty, he stated: “I'm committed to coach Australia.”
He repeated his same answer when he was asked whether he would still be Australia’s head coach next year.
Australia’s captain Dave Porecki was then posed with the question at whether the Herald’s article about Jones affected the squad on Sunday.
After Porecki insisted he wasn’t aware of the story, Jones chimed in – threatening to walk out of the press conference – as he fumed: “I really take umbrage at the questioning that people are questioning my commitment to coaching Australia.
"I really take umbrage at it. I've been working non-stop since I've come in and I've apologised for the result. I keep saying that.
“So to be questioning my commitment to the job, I think is a bit red hot. So we're not gonna deal with any of those questions any further.
“I'm happy to talk about Wales, Portugal but if you keep going down that line, I'll excuse myself. So do you want to decide what you want to do?"
He added: “I came back to Australia trying to help. At the moment, I'm not getting much help am I? But that doesn't mean my commitment to them has changed.
"I'm a proud Australian, I hate to see Australian rugby do as poorly as we're doing, particularly under my reign.
“It's not only the Wallabies that we've got to improve but it's the whole system of Australian rugby.
“That's not an excuse, we've just got to improve the way we're going about our rugby."
